Fire in Kenya girls' school dorm kills 16

Nairobi, Kenya: A fire in a girls' dormitory in Kenya on Thursday killed 16 children and hospitalised 79 in the latest deadly blaze to hit a school in the east African country.

The fire broke out shortly before 1am local time at Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru County, around 120 kilometres north of the capital Nairobi, officials said.

It was unclear how old the victims of Thursday's blaze were.

"We have 16 fatalities. It's an unfortunate incident," education minister Julius Migos Ogamba told reporters at the scene.

Frantic parents were being held outside the school buildings by authorities as investigators raced to identify the victims.

"Our hearts and prayers are with the families who have lost their beloved daughters," President William Ruto said on X, describing it as an "unimaginable tragedy".

The school is linked to the National Police Service and most pupils are the children of officers, said interior minister Kipchumba Murkomen.

"We know that this is a very anxious moment," he told reporters.

Asked about the cause of the fire, Murkomen called for patience while investigations were ongoing and urged people to avoid speculation.